While we have only seen a small skiff of snow, and the crops aren’t in, hockey players are back on the ice.
    The Minor Hockey season for Drumheller begins this weekend with a packed home schedule. While these are the first official games, the teams have been on the ice practicing since mid-September. The coaches and rosters have been selected, all they are waiting for is the puck to drop.
    Drumheller Minor Hockey board member, Jim Eskeland, tells inSide Drumheller, while there have been a small drop in their ranks due to economic conditions and other factors such as conflicting sports, they still have two tykes teams, and three novice teams on the ice, showing a strong future for hockey in the valley.  
    There is one atom, and two peewee teams, one bantam and one midget squad.
    For the next month, the league will be a hive of activity as play begins. In mid-November, there will be a league realignment, where teams will be graded and regrouped for parity. During this week, the association will be hosting the John Charmont Memorial Hockey Tournament, one of its flagship events.
    One big change this year, the expansion of the Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL) taking in approximately 2,500 more players. The league now has membership as far north as Stettler and Rimby.
    Eskeland says this change is so teams will be able to face more and better competition, while at the same time limiting travel in a tough economic time.
    The Drumheller Minor Hockey Association has always been a leader in promoting respect in sports and Eskeland says for the last two years they have implemented a Code of Conduct signed by players and parents.  Eskeland says this is a proactive step, not prompted by previous behavior, but recognition that there are passionate players, parents and fans, and this outlines expectations on the ice and in the seats.

    The St. Anthony’s girls junior varsity volleyball team has had a strong start to the volleyball season, and last week had a strong win over Hanna.
    The Saints hosted the Hawks on Thursday, October 6, and won three straight sets, 25-13, 25-12 and 25-19. Coach David Easter says following game, the team improved to a 1-1 record.
    “The team has improved a great deal from last year. The girls are practicing hard, and applying much of what we practice into game situations,” said coach Easter. “One of the best developments is seeing the team use our three hits most times when the ball comes our way.”
    One of the best aspects of his team he says, are the players’ attitudes.
    “They have become very good at communicating and pumping each other up, which has been very beneficial to our play thus far. It’s a fun group, and no matter the score, they are boosting one another and cheering their teammates on,” he said.
    Moving forward, the team is working on its skills to improve its game.
 “There is lots to work on, but the main goal is to grow stronger as a team at dealing with well-struck balls coming our way,” said Easter. “Our girls are getting stronger at digging the ball out, but we need to be able to continue growing at this skill to be successful in future tournaments and games. Hitting is also high on the priority list, as we want to be able to finish off points more quickly and definitively.”
    The Saints are hosting a home tournament on October 21.